Énéide is a epopee of Virgile, the most prestigious example of this literary kind in language Latin E, made up in Hexamètres dactylic. As well as Iliade and the Odyssey - which Énéide largely takes as a starting point -, the work caused the admiration of generations of well-read men of the Antiquité until our days and was a source of recurring inspiration for the artists and the poets. Énéide is the account of the tests of the Trojan Énée, ancestor mythical of the Roman people, wire of Anchise and the goddess Venus, since the catch of Troy, to its installation in the Latium. The poem, written between -29 and -19, contains approximately 10.000 worms and is divided into twelve songs.
Composition and summarized
Énéide is made up of twelve songs. Its organization was analyzed several manners
Songs I to VI describe the voyages of Énée before its arrival in the Latium. It knows storms there, is retained at a woman who it empèche to carry out her duty, goes down to the Hells; all these elements point out the Odyssée . One can divide Énéide into two parts of six songs each one: in the first, Virgile tells the voyages of Énée after the fall of Troy, until its arrival in Italy (songs I to VI). report the conflicts which Énée and its companions had to deliver to conquer the Latium until the creation of the kingdom of Lavinium. One brought closer this part of L Iliade .
Apart from this division in two parts, some distinguished three groups of four books, the four first being devoted to Didon and the episode with Carthage, the last four with the warlike episodes in Latium. For others, like J. Thomas, the twelve songs take again the astrological signs, the last song, most important, corresponding to the Balance, sign of Auguste.
Song I
Énéide opens on a storm unchained by order of Junon, whereas Énée seemed to touch with the goal of its voyage, Italy. The hatred of Junon marks all Énéide. Virgile indicates to him even the two reasons of them. It had supported the Greeks against Troyens whose Énée formed part at the time of the Trojan War. Especially, Énée must found Rome, which will destroy Carthage, liked city of Junon. One can bring closer this scene to storm of that of the Song V of the Odyssée where Poséidon raises a storm whereas Ulysses is for Corcyre. Here, however, the roles are reversed; Enée not being a Greek but Trojan, Neptune does not seem an adversary, but on the contrary like a support, it is him which forces Éole to alleviate the storm.Troyens then put foot at ground in Libya, and leave to drive out. After the meal, Énée worries about the fate of the other ships of its fleet (only seven boats had managed to accost in Libya). Venus intervenes then with Jupiter, in order to make sure of the future of Troyens survivors. This last reassures his/her daughter as for the future of Énée. He predicts to him the wars that Énée will have to carry out in the Latium, the foundation of Alba, the history of Romulus and Remus, and the accession with the throne of the Emperor Auguste.
Thereafter, Énée and its companions goes to Carthage, which is not far from the place where their ships accosted.
Énée and its companions then decide to meet Didon, the queen of the city. The latter is originating in Tyr, where she married Sychée, a commercial rich person phenician. However, this last was killed by the king Pygmalion, his own brother, jealous of his richnesses. Didon then decided to flee, with his/her companions and the money of her husband. It went then on the Libyan coast, where it founded Carthage.
Arrived at the palate, Énée then meets some of his/her companions, who survived the shipwreck. Troyens are well accommodated by Didon, which invites them, the come evening, with a large banquet.
After having made the ritual drinkings, the queen, éprise of Énée, asks him to tell its adventures to him.
Song II: account of Énée: the catch of Troy
Songs II and III are accounts in the account: Énée, at the request of Didon, tells the fall and the confusion of Troy (song II) and the tests that even endured to him since this moment (song III).
The account of the catch of Troy opens on the episode of the horse: Ulysses is dissimulated with other Greeks in a wooden horse “high like a mountain” ( “instar montis equum” ), while the other Greeks hide in the island of Ténédos, facing Troy. The Greeks thus seem to have disappeared and Troyens insert the horse in their city, thinking that it is about an offering to the gods, and this, in spite of the warnings of Laocoon which perishes with its two sons (see the “Groupe of Laocoon”, with the Museums of the the Vatican). The come night, Ulysses and his men leave, open the doors of the city, and put Troy there at fire and blood. At the time of the attack, Énée, deadened, sees Hector thinks about it which announces the end of Troy to him and says to him to save the Home and to flee.
Awaked by the noise of the engagements, he forgets the warnings of Hector, and, seeing his city in flames and delivered to the hands of the Greeks, initially decides to fight until death, him and his companions. Then, visited by his Venus mother, it takes the party to flee. It is accompanied by several people, in particular by Anchise, his father.
song III account of Énée: the tour
Énée recalls its voyage there after it has flees Troy. It is during this voyage that the oracle of Apollon to Délos reveals where must be built the city which will succeed Troy: on the ground of origin of Troyens. Enée interprets these words initially badly, and goes in Crete, first fatherland of Teucros. The Pénates then reveal in Énée that it must go in Latium, ground of origne of Dardanos, kind of Teucros, and founder of the town of Troy itself.
Song IV: loves of Énée and Didon
Didon is let persuade by its Anne to yield to her feelings for Énée, in spite of the wish made by the queen give up the love.
Only, little time after, the rumor of the connection between the two lovers runs in the streets of Carthage. Iarbas, the applicant of Didon, is addressed to Jupiter in one moment of anger, and the present situation reproaches him. This last then sends Mercure to the meeting of Énée, recalling him that the goal of its voyage was Italy. Didon, realizing that Énée prepares to leave, uses of all the subterfuges to retain it near it. Deaf person with the imprécations of Didon, Enée sets out again towards the destiny which was assigned to him.
The song ends in a pathetic passage: Didon curses Enée and commits suicide. Junon puts an end to the pain of Anne by death.
Song V: stopover in Sicily and plays funeral
To escape a violent storm, Énée and its companions unloads in Sicily, where reign Aceste, Trojan of origin and where is buried Anchise, the father of exactly died Énée a year before. Énée organizes a ritual ceremony and funerary plays. The account of the various tests (regatta, race on foot, fight, shooting with the arc) occupies a good part of the song.
But Junon, hostile in Énée, charges Iris with exploiting the lassitude of the women. This one appears to them in the shape of a mortal and, deploring over their long years wandering, it encourages them to burn the ships to force the men to fix itself definitively in Sicily. The Jupiter intervention, which causes the rain, makes it possible to save the essence of the fleet.
A companion of Énée, inspired by Pallas, suggests leaving weakest in Sicily and leaving for Latium with his warriors. Anchise appears then in Énée, it supports these councils and to see the Sibylle Cumes requires of him to go which will make it penetrate in Hell where they will be able to discuss. Énée leaves for Cumes under protection Neptune; the Palinure pilot dies for price of the protection of all.
Song VI: descent of Énée to the Hells
The descent with the Enfers undoubtedly constitutes the most famous passage of the epopee. It constitutes to some extent an initiatory voyage, where Énée, carried out by the Sibylle, discovers the country of deaths, but also its own descendants.
Énée, once arrived at Cumes, goes in the Sibyl. She assure him prophecies of Anchise: Énée will arrive to its ends after tests and wars. She makes it penetrate with the Hells, of which they traverse the various areas. In the Fields-Élysées, they find Anchise which shows in Énée its future descendants: kings of Alba, Romulus (the founder of Rome), its successors, Brutus the Old one, Pumped, Jules César and finally Auguste, called to put in place a powerful Empire and peace.
Énée goes up the surface of the Earth then, and makes put veil in direction of Latium.
Song VII: arrival in Latium
It is usually considered that with book VII opens a second part of the epopee: the account of the tours of Enée that of the wars in the Latium replaces.
Troyens arrive in Latium. On a remark of Ascagne, Énée understands that prophecies of oracle are achieved, that it arrived on the required ground. Oracles make include/understand with the local king, Latinus, which it must marry his daughter Lavinia in Énée, and not with Turnus, the young person and beautiful king of the Rutules.
Junon, to delay the destiny, sends the Furie Alecto, which pokes hatred against Troyens at the wife of Latinus, Amata, and in the Latin peasants. The door of Janus opens in spite of the will of the king, the war bursts.
Song VIII: The War prepares
Turnus called its allies of the surrounding cities in reinforcement, decided well with in découdre with Troyens. Énée, as for him, was disabled in front of these events, and fell asleep close to the Tiber. The Tiberinus god appeared then in the dreams of the Trojan. He reassured Énée as for his future, and advised it to be combined with called a Évandre (the old man was the chief of a colony of Arcadiens which had been installed on the slopes of the Aventin mount). The god also added that Énée was not to forget to honor Junon, although it is the instigator of this rise of violence.
Once awaked, Énée made a sacrifice with Junon, then moved towards the place where Évandre resided (Aventin is one of the seven hills on which Rome was built). The old man, who paid homage to Hercules (this last, according to the legends, would have met Évandre), accommodated Troyens suitably. He introduced his son to them, Pallas, then the history of the place told them where they lived. Venus, indicator which the war was inevitable in the Latium, required of her husband Vulcan to forge weapons for Énée and its companions. Thereafter, Énée and Évandre sought allies. They had then the idea to remove the Etruscans from their chief, a tyrant named Mézence (which was an ally of Turnus). The latter thanked Énée for it, and decided to make their chief of it (indeed, an oracle had declared that they were to choose a foreigner as chief. They turned initially to Évandre, but this last advised to them to choose Énée).
The old man then provides to the Trojan a quota riders arcadiens, ordered by his son Pallas. Énée, as for him, decided to preserve at its sides only most valiant of his/her companions.
Thereafter, the allies went near the Etruscan chief Tarchon, where Venus brought an armor to his/her son. The shield of Énée comprised many scenes of the history of Rome, of Romulus to the battle of Actium.
Song IX: first battles (without Énée)
Turnus, indirectly advised by Junon, attacks Troyens cut off in their camp whereas Énée is at Evandre. The engagements seem to turn to the advantage of Latin, in spite of the heroism of Euryale and Nisus, which leave the camp the night to seek Énée: they are made kill before to have concluded their mission. Ascagne takes part for the first time in the war, and shows its value there by killing Numanus
Song X
The gods, indicator what occurred in the Latium, decided to meet on Olympe. Venus then required of Jupiter to save Troyens, but Junon, on its side, showed Venus to have started all this violence by requiring so that Latin be submitted to foreigners. Jupiter, on its side, decided to remain neutral, and to see how the situation was going to develop.
On its side, Énée sailed towards the Trojan camping, accompanied by its new allies. Moreover, it was accompanied by Latin who were opposed to Mézence, and the fleet which it directed now counted then nearly 30 ships.
At this point in time the Trojan ships which had been changed into nymphs, appeared in Énée, advising it not to hesitate to fight against Rutules.
Then, Énée and its allies arrived at the camping, and prepared to fight. The battle burst then, Troyens and their allies facing their enemies Turnules. Énée killed a great number of enemies, but none of the two camps managed to take the advantage.
The riders arcadiens then had the will to give up the combat, seeing the determination of their adversaries, but Pallas, their chief, exhorted them to continue the fight. This last saw then Lausus, the son of Mézence, in the enemy camp. But this last could not face Pallas, and left its place to Turnus. Following a combat without mercy, Rutule managed to kill Pallas, and removed its cross-belt to him, although it agreed to return the corpse of overcome.
The news of died of Pallas came from then quickly to the ears of Énée. This last returned then in a black anger, and massacred a great number of Rutules, with the assistance of Venus. Turnus was in great danger, when Jupiter, in order to compensate for the assistance which Venus had brought to Énée, accepted that Junon kind Rutule of this bad step. The latter created a phantom resembling Énée, and directed it towards the fleet of Turnus, in order to make so that this last follows it. Its plan proceeded with wonder, and, once the king of Rutules assembled on the ship, the phantom disappeared and the boat took the broad one.
Turnus having left, it was with the turn of Mézence to take the command. The engagements continued, inlassablement, and none of the two camps took the advantage, with the great despair of the gods. Mézence wanted to then attack Énée, and its javelin launched to him, which rebounds on the shield of Vulcan. This last counteracted then, and wounded Mézence, which had to be withdrawn.
Lausus, the son of Mézence, then decided to cover the retirement of his/her father, and defied Énée, which killed it. Little time after, having learned the news from died from his/her son, Mézence, although wounded, decided to turn back and to face Énée. This last, with foot, made so that its enemy falls from his mounting and killed it. The engagements ceased shortly after.
Song XI
First of all, Énée, always very pious, thanked the gods for having helped it to gain this battle. Thereafter, Énée met Drancès, the ambassador of Latin (hostile with Turnus), and its will announced to him to make a truce, in order to honor the combatants who had perished during the battle. He also insisted on his desire to make peace, showing Turnus to have started the war. Then Énée sent to old the Évandre the corpse of his/her son Pallas, accompanied by sumptuous present. With the foot of the mount Aventin, this last lives to arrive the corpse of his/her son with a great sadness. Évandre did not want any in Énée because the destiny was thus written, but on the other hand required so that Turnus pay for its crime. Thereafter, of many bûchers were lit, on the Trojan side like Latin side, where one deposited the corpses of the combatants died in the combat. Énée made to dead then funerary homage.
During funeral organized in the honor of the victims, Latin proved to be divided into two camps. On a side partisans of Drancès, hostile with the war, other those of the queen Amata, favorable to Turnus.
The partisans of the war had then to undergo a new reverse, learning that the Greek hero Diomède would not help them against Troyens. Indeed, this one had taken refuge in Italy following the Trojan War, fleeing the Venus anger. The goddess, who had been wounded by the Greek during a battle, had decided to be avenged (it had then made so that the queen Aegialé, the woman of Diomède, misleads it. This last, which was king thanks to his marriage, was thus constrained to flee Greece as of its return of Troy). The Greek did not want to have any more to undergo the Venus anger, which was the mother of Énée. Moreover, he warned Latin that to fight against Troyens was undoubtedly not best solutions. Latinus then proposed to make peace, supported by Drancès (which reproached moreover Turnus for being a coward, this one “having fled” the battle while turning over on its ship). Then, the king of the Rutules spoke, and defended himself against Drancès by recalling that it had killed Pallas and of many Troyens, and that it had managed to return in their camping. It then reproached Drancès for being a coward, frightened by a band from abroad. But, Latin learned that Troyens and their allies moved towards the city, and thus had to put an end to the council of war. Whereas Turnus decided to take again the head of the operations, the Amata queen and her partisanes took refuge in the temple of Minerve, where they requested for the defeat of Énée.
At this point in time Camille, the queen of Volsques, offered her assistance to Turnus. She proposed to him to attack Énée while Turnus would defend the city. This last thanked it, but preferred to follow another plan. He asked its allied to deal with the Trojan cavalry, whereas itself would tighten a ambush at the enemy infantry in a ground escarpé (Camille was the girl of Métabus, former tyrant of Volsques, driven out by its people. During its escape, he managed to save his daughter, Camille, which he devoted to the goddess Diane).
The cavalry rutule, arrived near the Trojan cavalry, decides to leave to the attack. Several attacks all take place, very violent one, without one of the two camps not being able to take the advantage. The attention of Camille then was drawn by the beautiful weapons of a Trojan priest of the name of Chlorinated. This last was then charged by the young woman, who wanted to seize her goods. At this point in time Arruns, an ally of Énée, benefitted from the blindness of Camille to bore it of a blow of javelin. The latter, mortally wounded, decided to flee, and died shortly after in the arms of Acca, his/her partner. The advertisement of its death excited Latin as much as Troyens. The goddess Diane, anxious to avenge its protected, then charged a nymph with the name of Opis with killing Arruns (the latter transpierced it then arrow, killing it instantaneously).
Latin and their allies were then overcome, and were withdrawn in disorder towards their city. Those which could not take refuge there before the doors are not closed again were pitilessly eliminated by Troyens.
Turnus, always in ambush, was prevented by Acca of the situation. He arrived, with the favor of the night, to return downtown.
Song XII: died of Turnus and victory of Énée
Énée and Turnus are recontrent in singular combat. However, superiority of Enée and license. Pushed by Juturne, Italian intervenes in the combat, against the rules, which causes a new battle: An arrow reaches Enée. Cured by a discrete Venus intervention, Énée succeeds in making take again in Turnus the singular combat. It leaves there victorious. Turnus beseeches its grace but Énée refuses it to him. The epopee thus finishes on a scene of violence during which Enée kills an enemy without defense. However it is thought that work is unfinished
Posterity
The success of Enéide was immediate and very broad. Work was studied by any Latin schoolboy, and the language of Virgile was used as model in many posterior epopees. It was used as support in Antiquity with the writing of fictitious works, in which, for example, Didon addressed itself to Enée in a desperate letter (Ovide, Héroïdes , letter VII). With the Middle Ages, Enéide was one of the most studied pagan texts. About 1160, it gives place to an adaptation, the Eneas , one of the first French novels. Later, it is Virgile which leads the poet to the Hells in the Divine comedy. At the 17th century, sign of its celebrity, the Enéide is parodied on several occasions, in Italy then, about the middle of the century in France, in particular by Scarron in the Virgile disguised . In 1945, Virgile and its work are also pretexts with the masterpiece of Hermann Broch, the Death of Virgile .
Analyzes
The objective of Virgile, like had required Auguste of him, was to promote the Roman values - work of the ground ( labor ), respect of aïeux, the gods and the fatherland ( pietas ), courage ( virtus ), sobriety ( frugalitas )… - and to influence the Greeks by basing his account on those of Homère. One can thus see Enéide like a work of propaganda, this work abounding in passages defending the Auguste emperor. In particular, this text, telling the adventures of Enée, praises the exploits of the people Julia , the family of Jules César, of which the name was attached to Iule, wire of Enée (I and the J are undifferentiated in Latin). However, Auguste claimed this family, as wire adoptive of César.
Indeed, the time of Auguste () is often called the new golden age or the century of gold, because of economic prosperity and the civil peace which Rome knows after one century of interior tearings. Auguste wants to then restore the values of the Mos majorum , helped of intellectuals such as Virgile or Tite-Live.
See too
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